Turning back the age clock
The general public has been led to believe that aerobic exercise is the key to burning fat and losing pounds. Aerobic exercise has been shown in numerous scientific studies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, prevent the onset of diabetes, prevent some cancers and to have many other health benefits. But research has also shown that aerobic exercise alone is not sufficient for consistent fat loss.
At around 30 years of age, the body naturally begins to break down and absorb muscle tissue. This means that even if you maintain a steady body weight after age 30 , you can have significantly less muscle mass. As you lose muscle mass you lose all the calorie burning and metabolic benefits of that tissue. People will be heard to say that they have gained weight because their metabolism has slowed down. This is the reverse of reality.
People are not getting fatter because their metabolisms are slowing down. Their metabolisms are slowing down because they are getting fatter.
For every pound of muscle lost you lose a little piece of your metabolism. A well planned and executed fitness plan including strength training can be a virtual fountain of youth.
There aren't any tricks or short cuts, but the benefits are numerous, including;
decreased risk of:
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- obesity and some cancers